Kingsmead not kind to the Proteas

Sri Lanka pounced on South Africa's dismal recent record at Kingsmead to bowl the home team out for 168 in the second Test Tuesday and move into a commanding 177-run first-innings lead at stumps on the second day.

Thilan Samaraweera's 102 helped give Sri Lanka hope of winning the second Test against South Africa, whose struggles at Kingsmead continue.

DURBAN, South Africa // Sri Lanka pounced on South Africa's dismal recent record at Kingsmead to bowl the home team out for 168 in the second Test on Tuesday and move into a commanding 177-run first-innings lead at stumps on the second day.

Left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara took five for 52 to rip through South Africa's top order and spinner Rangana Herath four for 49 to mop up the tail, sending the Proteas to another slump at the Durban ground and their lowest total against Sri Lanka.

South Africa has lost their last three Tests at Kingsmead, and the poor form at the ground continued as the home batsmen collapsed after lunch to last just 54.4 overs following Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 338 - their highest score in South Africa.

Sri Lanka lost captain Tillakaratne Dilshan in the first over of their second innings, but the hefty lead saw the tourists take control of the game on South Africa and dramatically turn the tide in the three-match series after losing the first Test by an innings and 81 runs.

Veteran Thilan Samaraweera made 102 in Sri Lanka's first innings to put the visiting team on top, despite South Africa fast bowler Marchant de Lange's figures of seven for 81 on debut.

Left-armers Welegedara and Herath then combined to devastating effect as South Africa crumbled to 119 for eight on a good batting pitch to give Sri Lanka hope of a first-ever test win in South Africa and ending a run of 15 matches without a win stretching back to July 2010.

"We are really happy," said Samaraweera, whose 13th Test century justified his late inclusion in Sri Lanka's touring squad after being dropped for the recent series defeat to Pakistan. "If tomorrow is a good day, we are in a good position to win the Test match."